Anchor



Dec. 31, 1929.

T. BIRKENMAIER ANCHOR Filed April 25. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 31,1929.

T. BIRKENMAIER} 1,742,162

7 ANCHOR Filed April 25. 1927 a Sheets-Sheet 2 a9 35 55 v l/ l/ 7 77 63I q m man I l /a {252k e9 Dec. 31, 1929. TI. 'BIRKENMAIER ANCHOR FiledApril 25. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1H IIII'IHHHH llmmmw a W 'Patented Dec.31, 1929 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE THEODORE BIRKENMAIER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TOW. N. MATTHEWS CORPORATION, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A. CORPORATION OFMISSOURI Ancnon Application filed Apri1.25,

This invention relates to anchors and with regard to certain morespecific features, to

round anchors such as are used for holding guy wires and the like.

Among the several objects of-the invention may be noted the provision ofan expanding ground anchor adapted to be expanded by the mereapplication of blows; the provision of an anchor of the class describedwhich incorporates in its construction the combined advantages of anopening incline or wedge or cam and the advantages of a toggle linkage;the provision of an anchor incorporating said featuresin such a mannerthat the incline is effective to start the expansion and the togglelinkage is effective to provide finalexpansion, the toggle action takingeffect at the period of most advantageous toggle movement; and theprovision of adeviceofthe class described which is rugged and compact inconstruction, simple in operation and easily fabricated. Other objectswill be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combination'ofelements, fea-.

tures of construction, and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the structure herinafter described. and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the 3 following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, inwhich is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an assembled anchor shown within a hole,the anchor being in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1 but showing the anchor in expandedposition and also showing the manner in which it is forced 4 open;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the anchor body and one fluke shown in positionfor application to said body, said position being at 90 degrees to thenormal operating position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the body of 1927. Serial No. 186,254.

the anchor with its two fiukes supplied there to, the expander not beingshown;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4, the parts beingso positioned as to show the means of application of the expander; i

- Fig. 6 is a left side elevation of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sid eelevation of the anchor shown in closedposition; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7.

Similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated atnumeral 1 a round or similar hole which is dug. into the ground in theusual manner for the placement of anchors of the general class hereindescribed. The general contour of the present anchor.

before expansion, is round so that it mayjfit.

this hole properly. The anchor is adapted to hold a tie rod 3 in place,said tie rod being of the class adapted to be coupled to gay wires orthe like.

Referring to Figs. 3 and .4, numeral 5 indicates a more or less fiatbody portion, having an opening 7 through its center, the opening beingfor the purpose of receiving the shank of said tie rod 3. Formedintegrally with the body portion 5, on thelower side thereof, andtraversed by said opening 7 is a wedge or cam shaped lug 9. This lug 9is suitably braced to the body portion 5 by flanges 11, these flangesbeing positioned at some distance on each side of radial slots 13 formedin the body portion 5. Lateral fins or braces 15 are also used forsupporting the lug 9 to the body 5. g

As illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, the lug 9 is rectangularlyshaped, the short sides 17 (positioned transversely of the sand slots13) having flat inclined faces- The lug 9 is hollow and includes asuitable socket 19 for holding a nut 21 in place. The nut 21 forms thehead for the shank of the tie rod 3, sdid' shank -fitting looselythrough the ers 23. The central portion of the body 5, just above thelug 9, has integrally formed thereto an upstanding T-head 25, the arms28- of which are positioned laterally to the length ofslots 13. I heflukes ofthe anchor each comprise a flat plate 27, substantiallycircular in contour, having a "bight 3O removed from a certain portionof the periphery, said bight being or the purpose of cooperating withthe said spacers 23 whenever the fluke in question is used as the lowerone of a pair. An opening 29 traverses each fluke from a point midway ofthe bight 30 to and including the center. At the end of eachopening 29is formed a notch 31. The width of each opening 29 is such as to permitpassage of the T-head 25 in the fluke position shown in Fig. 3, but toprevent such passage in the fluke position shown in Fig. 4. The widthsof the T-head 25 and the round, hollow portion 26 which su ports it, aresubstantially the same. The

en s of the openings 29 are restricted in the manner shown at thenumeral 33, whereby removal of the fluke is prevented after it has beenapplied over the head 25 and turned to its Fig. 4 position. Each flhkeis somewhat sharpened at its edge 35, opposite the bight 30. I

It will be noticed that the flukes are equal in size and contour and maytherefore be made from the same pattern. The purpose of the spacers 23is to support the upper fluke at the outer portion thereof when theanchor is expanded, the lower fluke supporting the upper fluke at theinner portion thereof. It does not guide the fluke in a predeterminedpathand therefore will not bind the fluke.

The expanding means for this anchor com prises a wrist piece 37 whichhas a hole 39- there'through adapted to loosely fit the rod 3. Thiswrist piece pivotally carries a pair of flat toggle links 41,the lowerends of which are provided with cross lugs 43 adapted to easily passthrough the openings 29 of the flukes 27 (see Fig. 5) and to bepositioned beneath the slots 13. The flat toggle links 41 are adapted toslidably engage said slots 13.

The progressive stages for applying an ex pander are shown in Fig. 5, inwhich the right hand side shows a fluke partly lifted with one togglearm being pushed through the opening29. The lefthand side of the figureshows the next progressive position of the toggle during placement andthe dotted lines show a more nearly final position, wherein the link 41is positioned in the slot 13, while a lug 43 thereon is below said slot.

It may be noted that the. lower ends of the The tie rod 3 is placedthrough the holes a 39 and 7, the nut 21 being applied from beneath andplaced in the socket 19. Aligning 'holes 49, passing through the body 5and flukes may have a piece of wood or length of string or the likethreaded therethrough, for the purpose of holding the anchor in a closedposition While it is placed in hole 1 (see Fig. 1).

' After the anchor has been positioned in the hole 1, the wrist piece 37is struck with blows by means of a ram 51 in the hands of an operator.This results, first, in the lugs 43 being driven down the incline faces17 and expanded outwardly by the carnming or wedging action of the lug.The faces 45, engaging the notches 31, are by this means drivenoutwardly and in turn drive the flukes outwardly. If the anchor has beentemporarily held shut in the manner described, the wooden sliver orstring or the like shears. The anchor need not necessarily be held shutin the manner set forth.

It should be noted that not much resistance is at first encountered instarting the flukes into the sidewalls of the hole 1. Therefore, thecamming action of the inclines 17 and faces 45 (at a relatively highrate of speed) is enough to start the expanding action. The fiat togglearms 41, in moving through the slots 13 guide the flukes so that theyassume a proper radial movement.

As the action proceeds to a point at which the lugs 43 reach the ends ofthe surfaces 17, the. notches 47 come into contact with the notches 31,thereby providing the action of a toggle linkage at the time when such ahighly desirable linkage is most needed, that is when the forcesresisting expansion are greatest. It should be remembered that a toggleis most effective, as far as mechanical advantage is concerned, when ithas been somewhat flattened out in position. In its more unflattenedpositions, it is not so effective to increase the mechanical advantage.Hence, in this invention, the camming action is made use of in the moreor less unflattened positions of the toggle and the toggle action in theflattened positions thereof. By this means, improved action is obtained,that 19., the anchor first wedged open and then toggled open, theWedging action being effectiveto bring the toggle into its bestoperating position.

As stated, by means of the blows applied.

from the rod 51, the toggle action is carried lugs 43 do not cooperate,the expanding action being accomplished by means of the togglealone. Thetoggle comprises the wrist piece 37 and the toggle links 41, notched at47 into thenotches 31.

It is evident that the anchor may be readily assembled anddis-assembled, thereby making it desirable for afield party to merelycarry a supply of parts, to be assembled on the The parts of the anchorare preferably unmachined castings, although they may be machined, orstampings may be substituted.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous resultSattained. 7

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout departing from the scope-of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanyin-g drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. The anchor comprising a body, movable flukes cooperating therewith,camming surfaces associated with the body, a toggle linkage cooperatingwith the flukes and the body adapted under the application and blowsthereto to move said flukes radially, first by a. camming action on saidsurfaces, and, second, by a toggle action directly on the flukes andindependently of said surfaces, also under application of said blows.

2. The anchor comprising abody, radially movable flukesassociatedtherewith, spreading means comprising pivoted linkscooperating with the body and the flukes adapted upon applying blowsthereto, first, to spread the flukes by a cam action and, second, tospread them by a final toggle action, the body and" said means havingpassages therethrough to permit application of the anchor to a memberwhich is being anchored, said flukes and the body having passagesthrough which a portion of said spreading means is adapted to pass.

3. The anchor comprising a body, movable flukes cooperating therewith, acamming lug formed beneath the body having a recess therein, a headformed above thebody, a passage through the head, body and lug forreceiving the member to be anchored, the head of said member cooperatingwith said recess, means for applying'and removing the flukes to saidbody over said head in a' givenposition of said flukes which isnot theiroperative position, alinkage'cooperating with the flukes and the bodyadapted under the application of blows thereto to move said flukesradially, first, by a camming action and, sec- 0nd, by a toggle action.

4. The anchor comprising a body, movable flukes cooperating therewith,camming surfaces associated with the body, an opening formed through thebody for receiving the member to be anchored, a tog 1e linkagecooperating with the flukes and t e body adapted under the applicationand blows thereto to move said flukes radially, first by a cammingaction on said surfaces, and, second, by a toggle action directly on theflukes and independently of saidlsurfaces, also under application ofsaid blows.

5. The anchor comprisinga body, movable flukes cooperating therewith,camming surfaces associated with the body, an opening formed through thebody for receiving the member to be anchored, a toggle linkagecooperating with the flukes and t e body adapted under the applicationof blows thereto to move said flukes radially, first by a camming actionon said surfaces, and, second by a toggle action directly on the flukesand independently of said surfaces, one of the members of the togglelinkage being adapted to permit the passing of said member to be Ianchored and the other members thereof passing through the flukes and aportion of said body.

6. The anchor comprising a body, movable flukes cooperating therewithhaving openings thereima camming lug formed beneath the notches in theflukes opposite said radial.

slots, a toggle linkage comprising a wrist pin and toggle links, saidlinks having means cooperating with said camming surfaces, and saidnotches, whereby the flukes may be cammed apart and having means adaptedto cooperate in toggle fashion with the flukes when the camming actionhas ceased, where- .by a toggle action is obtained.

' 7. The anchor comprising a body, movable flukes cooperating therewithhaving openings therein, a camming lug formed beneath the body havingoppositely disposed camming surfaces, radial slots in the body oppositesaid surfaces, a head formed above the body adapted to permitapplication of said flukes in a non-operating position and to preventremoval of said flukes in their operating position, said headfunctioningas a guide for the flukes in their operating position,notches in'the flukes, opposite said radial slots, a togglelinkage'comprising a wrist pin and toggle links, said links having meanscooperating With said camming surfaces and said notches, whereby theflukes may be cammed apart and having means adapted to .isa

cobpemte in toggle fashion with the'flukes when the cumming action hasceased whrer by a toggle action is obtained, saici toggle linkscooperating with said radial slots and said fluke notches to guide theflukes in a radial manner.

In testimonywhereof, I have si ned my name-t0 this specification this231 day of April, W27.

THEODORE BIRKEWAIER.

